Tea-party activists question if rebel political movement has changed for worse

[alp227]

On the first day of December, Gena Bell walked into the lobby of the CasaMagna resort in Cancun, Mexico, both thrilled and a little wary about what was to come.

"I can't believe we're here!" she said, taking in the view of the water.

She'd had that feeling a lot recently. Two years ago, Bell was a floral arranger in Cincinnati with plenty of time on her hands (she used to trim five Christmas trees in her suburban house) and strong opinions about the direction in which the United States was going (down).

Now, she was a full-time political activist, the head of a fast-growing Ohio tea party group and an influential voice in the movement. Influential enough that Americans for Prosperity, one of the most well-heeled tea party backers in the country, had invited her to help protest a U.N. climate change conference in Cancun.

(snip)

The tea party's success has drawn hundreds of politicians and groups seeking to fasten themselves to the movement, steer it and speak for it. Millions of dollars have flowed in from corporations and rich donors, all of whom have their own ideas about what the tea party should be. This struggle for the soul of the movement has left many of its original activists facing agonizing decisions: Do they, should they, still belong?

They worry that the tea party risks selling out and losing its independence. They fear that its ragtag, rebel spirit will be drained by Washington's political pros and their establishment ways of doing business.

Full story: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/31/AR2010123102550_pf.html

[tridim]

1. When was the tea party ever "independent"?

It has been corporate, literally since day one.

[abq e streeter]

3. How dare you question the corporate media's official story line.

If the Washington Post says it's independent, then by God, it is. You're letting those silly little documented facts get in the way.

[Sonoman]

2. Those ignorant tools will never know what hit them.

They deserve to live in the streets with the rest of the Koch whores.

What was it that Twain said about having all of the fools in town on your side?

Sonoman

[Name removed]

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